Last week Frank Iler was sworn into the N.C. House of Representatives as a replacement for Bonner Stiller. He assumes responsibilities for House District 17 that serves Brunswick County.

With Iler’s background in regional politics, we’re hopeful he has a good foundation on which to start the long journey ahead.

Iler joins the General Assembly at a difficult time. It’s a time when senators and representatives must find great resolve in listening to the will of the state’s people while enduring difficult financial times.

Congratulations to Jayne Mathews and all those involved with the Brunswick County Volunteer Center for the recent honor of being named a “Best Of” winner by the National Association of Counties.

For its work with the Computers for Kids project, the center won an achievement award in the children and youth category.

Supported by county government, with guidance of the volunteer center, the project donates computers that are no longer being used by the county—and that have been rehabbed by volunteers—to local schools.

As if we don’t already have enough to celebrate and be thankful for on July 4, there’s one more reason—it’s the 43rd birthday of the Freedom of Information Act.

Born from the minds of lawmakers on Capitol Hill in 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, commonly referred to as FOIA, is the crux of an open and transparent government—well, if it’s the executive branch of federal government—but not the president or his immediate staff.

To the editor: I have recently visited and/or communicated with many of my former classmates. Most of them are not Christians, and none of them are reading the Bible.

Without trying to find out for themselves, they have decided it is useless to read the Bible. They have heard many people say many contradictory things about what the Bible says. They feel there is no point in trying to read a book that can be interpreted in so many ways.

To the editor: I would like to thank the sheriff of Brunswick County and his department for an outstanding job this past week in successfully closing down local prostitution and illegal massage in our area.

As an N.C. licensed and nationally certified massage and bodywork therapist now in the 11th year of my career, it means a lot to my colleagues and I that this is finally being addressed in earnest.